Looking back at the farm

March 5, 2010

Let's take a look at agricultural history going back to the years of A.D. 800 to about 1300. This information comes from an interesting book, "Climate of Fear," written by Dr. Thomas Moore, who has taught at Michigan State University, Stanford University and UCLA.

Using oxygen isotope measurements, upper treelines in Europe and written records, Dr. Moore was able to come up with a good idea of what farming and society in general were like during those centuries of long ago. And the picture he came up with is interesting and has some application for today.

Most of northern Europe and Greenland and Iceland were warmer than they are now. The Mediterranean, Arabian peninsula and northern Africa had more rainfall than they get today. Here in North America, we experienced better weather. Overall around the world, according to Dr. Moore, mankind flourished as never before.

During these years, dramatic changes took place in agriculture. These also brought about changes in society in general. Farming flourished in places where it had not been productive when the climate was cooler. Cultivated crops such as food grains, fruits and vegetables and even grapes for wine moved further north. In northern England, for example, grapes and other fruits were cultivated.

Food supplies in general became more reliable. Peasant farmers were able to live better. Their homes were warmer and drier with fewer diseases from damp conditions. Bogs and marshes dried up with a reduction in mosquitoes and insects to worry both farmers and villagers.

During those years of global warming, a remarkable revolution took place. With fewer crop failures, new lands were brought into production. Several countries experienced big population increases. With more demand, farm prices increased. Farmers overall did well during those times. In fact, according to records, populations increased fast enough to cause farmers to bring more land into cultivation.

Scotland flourished during that time with much greater crop production, more money and construction. Since more crops were produced and more people fed, Scandinavia's population greatly increased.

With a warmer climate, sea levels did rise. This forced people in the lowlands of Europe to migrate to other areas. Some attempt was made to build dikes to hold back the water, much like today in the Netherlands.

Why was there global warming during those years of A.D. 800 to 1300? We weren't putting the carbon in the air that some say cause the problem today. The best explanation given is that warming climates are a natural occurrence or caused by changes in the sun and sun spots. During those years of gradual warming, there were also a number of smaller ups and downs in temperatures.

It is interesting to note what happened in the world when temperatures started to fall. When colder weather came at the start of the 1400s, the good times of the earlier years came to a screeching halt. Except for a few times when there was good weather, famine, plague and wars were wide spread in areas that had been peaceful and well-fed. There were crop failures, and people were fighting for food. A basic principle that we need to remember is that hungry people are angry people. When we are hungry, it is difficult for us to hear or see anything else.

We are seeing this today in the terrible conditions in Haiti. Without food and water, mob rule can set in. Countries around the world are doing their best to help in that situation and we can be thankful we have an abundance of food to share. And we need to remember what is needed to continue that abundance for years to come.

As we look ahead, we also need to look back and see what global climate changes have done in the past.